2/19/19 O&A NYC SONG OF THE DAY: Janet Jackson- Love Will Never Do (Without You)

Janet Jackson’s Love Will Never Do (Without You) was more than a video, here Janet came into her own.  Continue reading

2/18/18 O&A NYC SUNDAY GOSPEL: Mahalia Jackson- Precious Lord, Take My Hand

Precious Lord, Take My Hand was Martin Luther King Jr.’s favorite song, and he often invited gospel singer Mahalia Jackson to sing it at civil rights rallies to inspire crowds; at his request she sang it at his funeral in April 1968. Continue reading

2/15/18 O&A NYC BLACK HISTORY MONTH THROWBACK THURSDAY: Sam Cooke – A Change Is Gonna Come

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A Change Is Gonna Come is a song by Sam Cooke, released on December 22, 1964 by RCA Victor. Though only a modest hit for Cooke in comparison with his previous singles, “A Change Is Gonna Come” became an anthem for the American Civil Rights Movement. The song is widely considered Cooke’s best composition and has been voted among the best songs ever released by various publications. In 2007, the song was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress, with the National Recording Registry deeming the song “culturally, historically, or aesthetically important.” Continue reading

2/15/18 O&A NYC FEELING THE VALENTINE’S DAY AFTERGLOW: What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life Chris Botti/Sting

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What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?, with lyrics written by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman and original music written by Michel Legrand for the 1969 film The Happy Ending, and performed by Michael Dees was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Legrand won the 1973 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying a Vocalist for a version performed by Sarah Vaughan. More than thirty years later, Billy Childs, Gil Goldstein, and Heitor Pereira won the 2006 Grammy Award for the same category for a version performed by Chris Botti and Sting. Continue reading

2/14/18 O&A NYC SONG OF THE DAY- VALENTINE’S DAY ENCORE PERFORMANCE: My Funny Valentine – Dee Dee Bridgewater & The Italian Big Band

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My Funny Valentine performed by Dee Dee Bridgewater & The Italian Big Band brings a jazz favor to the day that honors romance.  Continue reading

2/13/18 O&A NYC VALENTINE’S SONG OF THE DAY: Billy Preston And Syreeta – With You I’m Born Again Live

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With You I’m Born Again, a 1979 duet performed by Motown recording artists Billy Preston and Syreeta Wright, is a single from the soundtrack of the motion picture, Fast Break. The song was credited as With You I’m Born Again, Billy Preston and Syreeta and written by Carol Connors and David Shire. The single became an international hit for the duo.  Continue reading

2/11/18 O&A NYC GOSPEL SUNDAY: Total Praise – Richard Smallwood

Richard Smallwood wrote Total Praise during a dark time in his life. He was a caretaker for two people, one with Alzheimers and one with cancer. He originally sat down to write a “Woe is me” song , but this kept coming out instead. It’s what he called “Valley praise”. Continue reading

2/10/18 O&A NYC ITS SATURDAY ANYTHING GOES- CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Naomi Campbell Supermodel

naomi-campbell-makeup Naomi Elaine Campbell, an English-born model, of African Jamaican descent and Chinese Jamaican ancestry through her paternal grandmother, who carried the family name Ming. Recruited at the age of 15, she established herself among the top three most recognizable and in-demand models of the late 1980s and the 1990s, and she was one of six models of her generation declared supermodels by the fashion world. Continue reading

2/8/18 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Prince – When Doves Cry

When Doves Cry by Prince, is the lead single from his 1984 album Purple Rain.
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2/7/18 O&A NYC WaleStylez HIP HOP WEDNESDAY: Kendrick Lamar, SZA – All The Stars

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All the Stars performed by Kendrick Lamar and  SZA from the upcoming soundtrack for Marvel’s Black Panther, which was curated by Kendrick. The soundtrack arrive Friday February 9th.  Continue reading